A funeral mass was offered Oct. 1 at St. Bridget’s Church for Carmen Lydia Merced of Jersey City. She passed away at Cusack Care Center in Jersey City on Sept. 26 after a lengthy illness. Born in Aguas Buena, Puerto Rico, she was a resident of Jersey City since 1951. Carmen had worked in various local factories over the years. A parishioner of St. Mary’s and St. Bridget’s Church, she was an avid bingo player and loved spending time in Atlantic City with her family. Carmen is survived by her husband of 65 years, Antonio; her children, Hector, Antonio (and wife Gertrude) and Carmen Rivera (and husband Edwin); grandchildren, Kent and Nina Merced, Antonio Jr., Vanessa Merced Suazo, U.S. Army Lt. Wendy Anne Stoneburg, Melissa Johnson and Amy Nunez; sisters, Delia Gagliano and Christina Matos; as well as nine great grandchildren. Services arranged by the McLaughlin Funeral Home, Jersey City.